Anish Abraham
25 April 2005
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, in a move to make classical music accessible to all people in the city, has begun holding monthly concerts - with cut-price tickets - in Alexandra township.
The concerts take place at the Johannesburg Central College on the last Sunday of every month, and feature advanced students from the South African Music Education Trust / Standard Bank Alex Music Project.
The first concert, conducted by Michael Hankinson, took place on Sunday 24 April and featured Mozart's Marriage of Figaro Overture and Schubert's Symphony No. 8, "The Unfinished".
The move to bring classical music into the township is "part of our responsibility to take the orchestra to the people of the city", according to the orchestra's development director, Shadrack Bokaba.
"We realise a lot of people want to attend performances but are unable to afford the tickets or transport costs."
Bokaba says the concerts in Alexandra are only the beginning. "We are looking at taking the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra to other parts of the city as well", he said.
The Sunday shows at the Johannesburg Central College, corner of Canning and Nineth roads, Alexandra, start at 3pm and tickets are R5.
To ensure that the performances are affordable, the orchestra has secured funding from the National Lottery Distribution Fund.
Other concert dates are: 29 May, 26 June, 31 July, 28 August, 25 September, 30 October and 27 November.
For more information, visit the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra website or phone the orchestra on (011) 789 2733.
Source: City of Johannesburg
